Sign.



J. O. BELKNAP.

SIGN- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1914.

1 ,141,685, Iatented June 1, 1915.

amvawto a 7N5 NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING real. 0. C.

a wrap srxrnis rxrnivr caries.

JACKSON OGDEN BELKNAP, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO WILBER G. BELKN'AP I OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed June 20, 1914. Serial No. 846,281.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JACKSON 0. BELKNAP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in signs; and it has for its objects, first, to provide a sign having reflecting means and a movable inscription surface, the movable surface and reflecting means being so arranged that when the movable surface is in one position, one inscription will be visible, and when said surface is in another position, a different inscription will be visible; second, to provide such a surface, at one side preferably, with movable inscription surfaces adapted to present different sides to view; third, to provide such a sign with an illuminating device; and, forth, to provide mechanism for imparting movement to said inscription surfaces. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my sign, with the operating mechanism casing in section, so as to show the operating mechanism; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the sign; and Fig. 8, a perspective view of a portion of the inscription surface, looking from the rear.

1 indicates an inscription surface, which is preferably made of drum shape, with its front portion flat, although this inscription surface may be made of any other desired form, and it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the form thereof. This inscription surface, preferably at the rear, bears one or more inscriptions. In the present case two are illustrated, designated by the reference numerals 2 and 8, being the words Luck and Fun. One or more reflecting devices, two being illustrated, 4: and 5, are utilized for presenting the inscriptions to view. Preferably they are secured to a box or casing 8, by any suitable means. That the inscriptions used as illustrations will appear in proper order to the observer, they are inscribed in reverse order on the inscription surface.

The inscription surface or drum 1, in the form illustrated, is provided with flaps or inscription surfaces 6, capable of bearing inscriptions. These flaps or surfaces are movably secured to the drum or surface 1 by means of pins 7. The drum is secured to brackets 9 by means of trunnions 10, or other suitable devices, one at each end, so that the drum may be moved to different positions, thus causing different inscriptions to become visible. In this way the inscription 3, in the form illustrated, becomes visible in the reflecting device 5 when the drum is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the inscription 2 becomes visible in the reflecting device 4 when the drum is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Of course, it will be understood that my invention contemplates the use of any number of reflecting devices and any number of inscriptions.

In order to give movement to the drum 1, clock mechanism is preferably employed. It is mounted in the box or casing 8, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A pitman 11 is secured at one end to said operating mechanism and at the other end to one end of a link 12. The other end of the link is secured to one of the trunnions 10. The connections between the pitman and link is pivotal, while that between the link and trunnion is rigid, in therillustrated form. This operating mechanism is of the same kind as that illustrated in my Patent No. 354,621, dated Dec. 21st, 1886, but it is ob vious that any desired operating mechanism and any desired connection between it and the drum may be employed.

As heretofore stated, the drum 1 carries movable flaps or inscription surfaces 6. In the preferred form the flaps bear inscriptions on opposite sides, and are caused to move by the drum, so as to expose to view one or the other of their sides. When the drum is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the flaps lie against its flat face. Then as the drum is moved forward at the top, so as to assume the position shown in dotted lines, the flaps swing forward and their momentum causes them to pass the pivotal points. As the drum returns to full line position, the flaps fall back against the drum, but with their opposite sides to view. Thus the flaps present one side to view and after the drum moves forward and backward, the other side is exposed to view. The flat face of the drum may also be provided with inscriptions, so that when the flaps stand away from the drum, these inscriptions may be seen. But as the operation of these flaps is disclosed in my said Patent 354,621, I will not further describe the same here. But it is to be understood that other means may be employed for operating these flaps.

As it is desirable to use my sign at night, I employ an illuminating device, preferably an electric light, 13, so that the inscriptionsobject is to provide inscriptions and an illuminating device so arranged that the inscriptions can be read at night. 7

My improved sign apparatus may be placed in show Windows, so that persons coming up in front of, and looking into, the window will see the effects produced bymy device. Or it may be placed in other situations, and in any case, is to be viewed from a position essentially in front of the apparatus, which would be at the right-hand side of Fi g. 1, the person or persons looking from that position toward the left in Fig. 1. A. person in the position indicated would see the inscription reflected in the upper mirror 4 when the inscription surface was in the position shown in dotted lines; and would see the inscription reflected in the lower mirror 5 when thesurfa'ce was in the position shown infull lines.

As my apparatus is illustrated, when one mirror is reflecting an inscription, the other mirror is not reflecting an inscription, so that the inscriptions are alternately reflected by first one mirror and then the other, as the position of the inscription surface changes with respect tothe mirrors; but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this arrangement.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only, and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a sign, a device constituting an in-' scription surface having an inscription at i,141,est

scription surface havingan inscription at one part, a mirror acting to reflect that inf; scription when the device is in one position, having another inscription at another part, anothermirror to' reflect that inscription when the device is in another'positiom-and' movable flaps secured to said device and adapted-to bear inscriptions thereon and to swing from one position-to another as the device is adjusted from. one' position to another, and mechanism to operate the device tocaus'e it to change its positions. 3. In sign, a device constituting an inscription surface having one inscription at one part thereof, a mirror positioned to reflect said inscription when the device is in one position, and having an inscription at another part thereof, and another mirror to reflect the latter inscription when the device is in a changedposition, the relation of the parts being such that when one mirror is reflecting one inscription, the other mirror is" inactive." V

4. In a sign, an oscillatorydevice having an inscription surface with one inscription atone side of the center of oscillation, a mirror' at that side of the center to reflect'said inscription, and an inscription at the other side of said center, and a mirror at that side to reflect the last named inscription. V. l

5. In a sign, a device having inscription surfaces, with an inscription at one part thereof, amirror acting toreflect that in; scription when the device is in one position, another inscription at another part thereof, another mirror to reflect that inscription when the deviceis in another position, flaps secured to said device and adapted to swing from one'position to another as the device is adjusted from one position to .another, and an electric light located within the device and adapted to illuminate the inscriptions thereon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACKSON OGDEN BELKNAP. lVitnesses JoriN Gr. GREEN, JNo. NIoLoN, Sr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the C'ommissionerot Patents,

Washiii'gtom-RG. V 

